The 2021 "Readers' Choice Inspirational Canadian Magician of the Year" award

 

NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED.

Updated November 29th to add:

• Jean Deshaies has accepted his nomination by Magicien Méphisto who wrote:
  "I would like to nominate Jean Deshaies.
  
  "A few years back, after doing magic as a hobby for some years, I went to attend a 2h course in magic, along with my daughter and a few other people in Québec City. The teacher was great, and made a strong impression on me right from the start. He was patient, nice, skillful & knowledgeable. But most of all, he showed a real passion for magic. After the course, we chatted a little and I told him magic was a fine hobby, but beside a select few, I thought no one could earn a living doing that. I vividly remember him looking at me like I had 2 heads. He answered there were many ways and opportunities to make a living in magic, if you really like it and put in the time and effort. Afterward I gave that some serious thoughts, and not long after that, I started doing magic professionally because of Jean's encouraging words and attitude. Since then, whenever I needed clues about getting started in different fields (strolling, table magic, zoom magic etc) he was always willing to teach and help. I sometime sent him videos for him to criticize or get his point of view.
  
  "Furthermore, instead of getting discouraged by the pandemic, Jean used the new medium of virtual magic to great success, presenting zoom shows in schools all across Canada.
  Jean Deshaies is my mentor in magic and without his inspiration, I certainly wouldn't be where I am today: still learning, but happy to be a professional magician."

Updated November 27th to add:

• The nomination period has ended.  Nominations will no longer be accepted.
  We are waiting to hear if the nominee submitted by Magicien Méphisto will accept the nomination.
  
  

Updated November 23rd at 4:20pm to add:

• Paul Romhany has accepted his nomination by Mike Norden which reads:
  "I nominate Paul Romhany!
  
  "Paul is an amazing magician, and a wonderful human being.
  
  "First - his Chaplin act is amazing. He’s toured the world with this act and that alone is justification for this award.
  
  "Second - he has produced dozens of books, tricks and routines for other magicians! Some of the top names in magic use his methods or gimmicks while they compete on shows like AGT or Fool Us!
  
  "Third - He runs Vanish Magazine! Have you read it? It was free for years and now cost a few pennies lol - it’s filled with Canadians - half of the columnists are local!!
  
  "Fourth - He supports magic clubs, is on the board of CAM, participates in conventions and lectures - and he is willing to give his shirt off his back - genuinely - for someone in need. He’s the real deal!
  
  "He does so much for magic and does not seek the spotlight - so let’s shine some light on him this year and vote for him please!"
  
  

Updated November 21st at 2:30pm to add:

• Scott Baird has accepted his nomination by Anonymous which reads:
  "I would like to nominate Scott Baird for showcasing his love of magic and art with his detailed magic illustrations on Instagram, and also for deciding to start a new Canadian-made online magic magazine. His magic artwork is FANTASTIC so check it all out - @magicbaird @scottbaird @hermitmagicmag Wishing him the best of luck in all his magical endeavors. "
   
  

Updated November 21st at 2pm to add:

• Chris Gowen has accepted his nomination by Anonymous which reads:
  "I nominate Chris Gowen as he is changing how magic looks in Edmonton. Completely selling out his Taste of Magic shows with the Canadian Brewhouse... seems about as Canadian as a show can get.
  Looks like he's fast on his way to no longer being one of "Edmonton's Best Kept Secrets" but more one of Edmonton's celebrated artists."
  

Updated November 20th at 10:34am to add:

• Gwyn Auger has accepted her nomination by Anonymous which reads:
  "I'd like to nominate Gwyn Auger, the Magic Assistant (@magicassistant on Twitter and Instagram). Gwyn's petite frame can barely contain the enthusiasm and passion she has for magic and the magic community. She is great ambassador for magic locally in Calgary, in Canada and abroad."
  

Updated November 18th at 9:40am to add:

• Graemazing and Ryan Joyce have accepted their nomination by Anonymous and the Merchant of Magic, "for the inspirational Magicians Talking Magic podcast" and for being all around fabulous people!
  

• Big thanks to L7W for submitting their nomination.  Unfortunately, the nominee is not eligible for the award.  They are, however, extraordinarily flattered by your lovely comments!  Thank you!
  

Updated at 12:24pm to add:

• Team Big Trick Energy (Chris Ramsay, Eric Leclerc, Wes Barker, and Alex Boyer) have accepted their nomination by Unknown which reads:
  "Decisions decisions! For me this year I'd have to give it to the dudes at Big Trick Energy. If I had to pick one of the 4 I would have picked Eric. So maybe this is TWO nominations? I've never met such a carefree, loving and positive human in my life...well (except for maybe the delavegas-sweetpeas). Eric lives magic, epically. His insta stories motivate me to get off my butt.The other guys are also totally awesome as people and performers, and I hope their show propels them and to even bigger things ahead."

The sixth annual Canada's Magic "Readers' Choice Inspirational Canadian Magician of the Year" award nominations are now open.

You may nominate living Canadian Magician(s) of your choosing by leaving their name along with a short note about how they inspired you in 2021, in the comments below.  (Or you may email your nomination.)

Nominations will be accepted up until 11:59PM EST on Friday November the 26th.  We will contact the nominees via email and give them one week to accept or decline their nomination.  If we have not heard from them in that time, we will assume they have declined the nomination.  Submissions will not be published unless a nominee accepts their nomination.    The full list of nominations will be published and voting will commence in December.  (Canada's Magic is not eligible for the award, nor will it be participating in the nomination or voting process.) 

This is a "bragging rights" only contest.  There is no cash value for this award.

Individuals and groups can be nominated.

There is no shortage of Canadian magical inspiration in 2021. 

Some ideas to get you started:

• The current board of the Canadian Association of Magicians (Renée-Claude Auclair, Greg Frewin, Ryan Joyce, Luc Langevin, Mark Pallin, Paul Romhany, Mike Segal, Jason Verners, and Kent Wong) for their efforts in CAM's recent relaunch and hosting FISM NA.
  
• Team Big Trick Energy (Chris Ramsay, Eric Leclerc, Alex Boyer, and Wes Barker) for parlaying their tremendous YouTube engagement skills into a television series.
• Matt Johnson for going big on America's Got Talent. 
• Shawn Farquhar for launching his Lost in the Shuffle project with Jon Ornoy.
  
• The Toronto Magic Company (Jonah Babins and Ben Train) for launching their brand of UnConventional.Fun.
  
• The list goes on ...

(these are not official nominations,
but they can be if you submit their name(s) for nomination!)

We look forward to seeing your nominations!

In the spirit of celebrating all Canadian magicians, 2020's winners of the Readers' Choice award (Carisa Hendrix, Miranda Allen, and Richard Lee) or the Editor's Choice award (Alex Zander) are not eligible for nomination in 2021.  The list of previous winners can be found here.